GRAPE VINES. 



Grape Vine ( Vitis vinifera ) is found growing wild in Southern Europe, Northern 

 Africa, and Western Asia. Its native country cannot be determined satisfactorily, 

 yet it appears indigenous to that part of Asia Minor south of the Caucasus Moun- 

 tains and the Caspian Sea, and includes Armenia, Palestine, Syria, and Persia. De 

 Candolle, in UOrigine des Plantes Cultivees, states: "Seeds of the grape vine have 

 been found in the lake dwellings of Castone, near Parma, which date from the age of 

 bronze. Yine leaves have been found in the tufa round Montpellier probably deposited 

 before the historical epoch. Its dissemination by birds and other agencies must have, 

 begun very early perhaps before the existence of man in Europe, or even in Asia." 

 The cultivated grape vine, however, appears to have followed the footsteps of 

 man. Grapes were grown and wine made in Egypt 4000 B.C. Noah, 2348 B.-C., 

 u planted a vineyard." The men sent by Moses in 1490 B.C. to search the land of 

 Canaan " came unto the brook (or valley) of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch 

 with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a staff." The soil and 

 climate of Judea were so well suited to the growth of the vine that grapes were among 

 its principal productions, and particular districts, as Engedi, and the vales of Eshcol 

 and Sorek, were famed for the excellence of their grapes. Sorek signifies the noblest 

 variety of the vine a white grape (with delicious juice, small and soft seeds), 

 from which the best raisins are made in Persia, and the celebrated Kishmish wine 

 of Schiraz. 



The Phoenicians first introduced the vine into Europe Greece and Italy, whence it 

 spread into France and other parts of the Continent. It is supposed that the Romans 

 introduced the vine into Britain A.D. 10. Tacitus, son-in-law of Agricola, governor of 

 Britain and teacher of its inhabitants in the " arts and luxuries of civilization," declared, 

 about A.D. 97, that " the moist climate (of Britain) was unfavourable to the vine matur- 

 ing its fruit." Domitian issued an edict in 85 prohibiting the planting of new 

 vineyards in Italy, and directed those in the provinces to be destroyed. Probus 

 rescinded that edict in 280, and Britain is mentioned as a province allowed to culti- 

 vate the vine. 



